GTA 6 Car Theft Explained: Slim Jims and Key Cloners
Smashing a window and driving off is not enough in GTA 6. Different cars now need different tools, and the WAINK app tells you which.
GTA 5 made car theft a formality: smash the window, hotwire, drive off. A hands-on Rockstar North preview shows GTA 6 turning that into an actual decision with real failure states.
Getting in
A parked car can still be broken into by smashing the window, but that sets off the alarm. Older cars can instead be opened quietly with a slim jim, worked with the analog sticks. Occupied cars still work the classic way, pulling the driver out, except now it can go wrong: a passenger can throw you straight back out, so getting past the driver does not always mean the job is done.
Getting it running
This is the part that catches people out. Getting into a car does not guarantee you can start it. Some vehicles cannot be hotwired at all and need a key cloner instead, which also starts the car quietly. Finding a high end car you cannot start yet, mid chase, is reported to be a real possibility, which is why checking a car before committing to it matters.
Trackers and getting caught later
Even a running, stolen car is not automatically safe. Our vehicle trackers guide covers what happens once you are driving something that is still reporting your position.
Where the tools come from
Slim jims and key cloners are reported to come from progressing with contacts, including vehicle fences. Our fences guide covers how that relationship works for stolen goods generally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hotwire any car in GTA 6?
No. Some vehicles reportedly cannot be hotwired at all and require a key cloner instead, so getting into a car is not the same as being able to start it.
What does the WAINK app do in GTA 6?
It scans a vehicle before you steal it, showing its security level, the tool required, its tracker status and its resale value.
How we reviewed this article
- Written by
- Marek VosGuides editor
- Reviewed by
- Iris LangeNews and database editor
Sources
- TGG, 2026 · Everything We Know About GTA 6 So Far
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